Financially assist JRod’s reintegration process
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JONATHAN IS COMING HOME
We cannot express the deep joy and gratitude we have toward everyone who has supported us along our 14-year journey! We won. The clouds have cleared, and the sun shines again. Our Jonathan is coming home. Thanks to every like, share, petition signature, support letter, and everyone who held it down!!
Everything worked the way it was supposed to. This blessing came down to preparation meeting opportunity. Let me explain. Along this 14-year journey, from sharing our story on Facebook, to being published in the Houston Chronicle, to building the www.FreeJRod.com website/podcast episodes - one of the main purposes has always been to help Jonathan stand out - as my family´s successes are a testament to his change.
Our sister Ruby, a Licensed Master Social worker, was persistent in reaching the Parole voter to advocate for Jonathan and our entire FREEJROD campaigns behalf. Thankfully, she landed a phone interview with the parole voter and touched his heart with our story - he was impressed by Jonathan’s influence and all 1,400 petition signatures. He saw that Jonathan will come home to a support system built on pillars.
Ruby also told the voter about a letter Jonathan recently wrote; a letter written from Jonathan to Young-lost Jonathan. This letter was the final chess piece necessary - we’ve been preparing for this opportunity for YEARS. Preparation met opportunity; my sister voiced the last chess move, granting my brother freedom through parole. Tears of joy have filled the void in our hearts ever since we heard the news; we are eternally in debt to you all.
As for Jonathan, He recently turned 30 but has the mind of a 90-year-old wise man. He’s been preparing for this moment for over a decade by reading countless books on every topic, from financial literacy, business, science, theology, math, and psychology - to parenting and even books on how to be a good grandfather (seriously lol). But there are basic skills that even books cannot teach, such as driving, grocery shopping, and opening a bank account since he was 16 when this nightmare began; he will come out with Zero dollars to his name despite working in our Texas prisons for his entire sentence.
Our household is not in the most financially stable position for this unperceived blessing. If you could spare a cent to help financially assist Jonathan’s reintegration process - it would be of great help.
Don't feel obligated though, many of you have done enough by simply praying for this moment. We cannot express how thankful we are to our community!! It takes a village. Petitions do make a change.
Jonathan will surpass every limitation that society sets for “ex-felons”, despite having paid his debt to it. The story of Jonathan Rodriguez is just beginning. Our work to advocate for criminal justice reform doesn’t end here.
I’ll end this by attaching the letter Jonathan wrote to his younger self.
The letter reads:
Dear Younger Me, Hey kid, it’s your 30-year-old self. Wow! Now that I look at you, I see through the insecurities, pain, hurt, anger, and filth. You are a beautiful - smart boy with immeasurable potential. Unfortunately, your search for someone to bring that out of you will be futile. In fact, most adults you look up to, will render you useless - forcing you to face the world alone. Your every decision in life will then be influenced by your pathetic understanding and you will blame it all on fate which will harden your heart toward everything and everybody. People will cringe at your outburst, not knowing that all your soul is desperate for - is just a little love; typical for a boy to mask anguish with rage. You will then settle for less in everything you do - those you will call friends will be of no exception. But hey! If they notice you - why not keep them or try to impress them? Right? So, you become the sheep in wolf's clothing to fit in with the pack. Around and around, you will go, creating havoc, but little do you know... it's your way of expressing pain. You'll be running full speed until you hit a wall where the impact will fold you to your knees. You will be snatched away from the nest and placed where little bad wolves are placed by society: amongst the "wild animals". For the next decade - fear will be your new companion during the day, and shame/regret during the nights. Oh, and don't you dare let anybody know this because devoured you will be. Fortunately, you will eventually become aware of the benefits of fear because it'll keep you aware! You will allow shame and regret to spur you on into becoming a better man. Hence, through that journey, you will deal with your insecurities, weaknesses, and baggage; the things that stumped your growth. With this freedom you will slowly but surely see - what was once a little hurt boy - is now a confident man who no longer wears his old wolf coat but his own! You will be a man who will never let him give up, one with great dreams!!
So, Younger Me, as you find yourself caged up like an animal, crying yourself to sleep - help me look forward to what we will both become! However, there's just one thing that's stopping me from getting there, that's why I´m here. So, listen carefully, because it is very important. What's stopping me now is telling YOU this: I FORGIVE YOU. I forgive everything that you have ever done and said. I forgive you for placing me in prison. I forgive you for calling yourself, me, names. I forgive you for settling for less. Ultimately and most importantly, I forgive you for not loving yourself. This is now going to set us free and amplify the will that's needed to accomplish the BIG dreams that I have now set forth. So, hold my hand Jonathan and let's both go there...
We cannot express the deep joy and gratitude we have toward everyone who has supported us along our 14-year journey! We won. The clouds have cleared, and the sun shines again. Our Jonathan is coming home. Thanks to every like, share, petition signature, support letter, and everyone who held it down!!
Everything worked the way it was supposed to. This blessing came down to preparation meeting opportunity. Let me explain. Along this 14-year journey, from sharing our story on Facebook, to being published in the Houston Chronicle, to building the www.FreeJRod.com website/podcast episodes - one of the main purposes has always been to help Jonathan stand out - as my family´s successes are a testament to his change.
Our sister Ruby, a Licensed Master Social worker, was persistent in reaching the Parole voter to advocate for Jonathan and our entire FREEJROD campaigns behalf. Thankfully, she landed a phone interview with the parole voter and touched his heart with our story - he was impressed by Jonathan’s influence and all 1,400 petition signatures. He saw that Jonathan will come home to a support system built on pillars.
Ruby also told the voter about a letter Jonathan recently wrote; a letter written from Jonathan to Young-lost Jonathan. This letter was the final chess piece necessary - we’ve been preparing for this opportunity for YEARS. Preparation met opportunity; my sister voiced the last chess move, granting my brother freedom through parole. Tears of joy have filled the void in our hearts ever since we heard the news; we are eternally in debt to you all.
As for Jonathan, He recently turned 30 but has the mind of a 90-year-old wise man. He’s been preparing for this moment for over a decade by reading countless books on every topic, from financial literacy, business, science, theology, math, and psychology - to parenting and even books on how to be a good grandfather (seriously lol). But there are basic skills that even books cannot teach, such as driving, grocery shopping, and opening a bank account since he was 16 when this nightmare began; he will come out with Zero dollars to his name despite working in our Texas prisons for his entire sentence.
Our household is not in the most financially stable position for this unperceived blessing. If you could spare a cent to help financially assist Jonathan’s reintegration process - it would be of great help.
Don't feel obligated though, many of you have done enough by simply praying for this moment. We cannot express how thankful we are to our community!! It takes a village. Petitions do make a change.
Jonathan will surpass every limitation that society sets for “ex-felons”, despite having paid his debt to it. The story of Jonathan Rodriguez is just beginning. Our work to advocate for criminal justice reform doesn’t end here.
I’ll end this by attaching the letter Jonathan wrote to his younger self.
The letter reads:
Dear Younger Me, Hey kid, it’s your 30-year-old self. Wow! Now that I look at you, I see through the insecurities, pain, hurt, anger, and filth. You are a beautiful - smart boy with immeasurable potential. Unfortunately, your search for someone to bring that out of you will be futile. In fact, most adults you look up to, will render you useless - forcing you to face the world alone. Your every decision in life will then be influenced by your pathetic understanding and you will blame it all on fate which will harden your heart toward everything and everybody. People will cringe at your outburst, not knowing that all your soul is desperate for - is just a little love; typical for a boy to mask anguish with rage. You will then settle for less in everything you do - those you will call friends will be of no exception. But hey! If they notice you - why not keep them or try to impress them? Right? So, you become the sheep in wolf's clothing to fit in with the pack. Around and around, you will go, creating havoc, but little do you know... it's your way of expressing pain. You'll be running full speed until you hit a wall where the impact will fold you to your knees. You will be snatched away from the nest and placed where little bad wolves are placed by society: amongst the "wild animals". For the next decade - fear will be your new companion during the day, and shame/regret during the nights. Oh, and don't you dare let anybody know this because devoured you will be. Fortunately, you will eventually become aware of the benefits of fear because it'll keep you aware! You will allow shame and regret to spur you on into becoming a better man. Hence, through that journey, you will deal with your insecurities, weaknesses, and baggage; the things that stumped your growth. With this freedom you will slowly but surely see - what was once a little hurt boy - is now a confident man who no longer wears his old wolf coat but his own! You will be a man who will never let him give up, one with great dreams!!
So, Younger Me, as you find yourself caged up like an animal, crying yourself to sleep - help me look forward to what we will both become! However, there's just one thing that's stopping me from getting there, that's why I´m here. So, listen carefully, because it is very important. What's stopping me now is telling YOU this: I FORGIVE YOU. I forgive everything that you have ever done and said. I forgive you for placing me in prison. I forgive you for calling yourself, me, names. I forgive you for settling for less. Ultimately and most importantly, I forgive you for not loving yourself. This is now going to set us free and amplify the will that's needed to accomplish the BIG dreams that I have now set forth. So, hold my hand Jonathan and let's both go there...
Organizer
Joshua Rodriguez
Organizer
Channelview, TX